Moses Commissioned
June 18, 2020
Commentary
In today’s passage, Moses asks two more questions and makes a statement: (3) What if the people reject me (again) (v. 1). Moses’s last attempt at organized resistance hadn’t gone so well (Exo. 2:11-15). This time he would have the Lord on his side, but what if they people didn’t believe that? The Lord responded to his question with a question of his own, “What is that in your hand?” (v. 2). Moses had a shepherd’s staff. The Lord then gave Moses a taste of his divine power. These miracles display the Lord’s mastery over creation: (1) the Lord can change one object into a different object (a staff into a snake and back again or water into blood), and (2) the Lord can inflict and heal disease.
Moses still had one more question: (4) What if I no speak good? (v. 10). Moses apparently felt a little rustic after spending the last 40 years speaking mostly to his sheep, himself, and his Midianite neighbors. But the Lord promised to be with his mouth and to teach him what he ought to say (vv. 11-12).
Moses’s final statement could be worded in the form of this question: (5) Why don’t you send someone else? (v. 13). The Lord became angry at this point. It’s worth noting that anger is not sinful, but what you do with your anger can be sinful. Moses’s fear did not absolve him of responsibility; it only created more separation between the people and God. Now the Lord would speak to Moses, Moses would speak to his older brother Aaron, and Aaron would speak to the people (vv. 14-16). Aaron turned out to be more of a hindrance than a help (Ex. 32:15-28; Num. 12). Sometimes God will allow us to have our own way even when it is not best just to teach us a lesson. Aaron would do the talking, but Moses, with his staff, would do the signs (v. 17).
Application
The excuses which Moses used for not wanting to do what God asked are the same ones I tend to use today but God still wants me to trust Him to do His work. What am I trusting Him to do in and through my life today?
Exodus 4:1–17 (NET)
1 Moses answered again, “And if they do not believe me or pay attention to me, but say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you’?” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 The Lord said, “Throw it to the ground.” So he threw it to the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and grab it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand — 5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
6 The Lord also said to him, “Put your hand into your robe.” So he put his hand into his robe, and when he brought it out—there was his hand, leprous like snow! 7 He said, “Put your hand back into your robe.” So he put his hand back into his robe, and when he brought it out from his robe—there it was, restored like the rest of his skin! 8 “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the former sign, then they may believe the latter sign. 9 And if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to you, then take some water from the Nile and pour it out on the dry ground. The water you take out of the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not an eloquent man, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 So now go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you must say.”
13 But Moses said, “O my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!”
14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses, and he said, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak very well. Moreover, he is coming to meet you, and when he sees you he will be glad in his heart.
15 “So you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And as for me, I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you both what you must do. 16 He will speak for you to the people, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were his God. 17 You will also take in your hand this staff, with which you will do the signs.”
Johnny Cash’s Conversion Story
Johnny Cash! Known internationally as the great country folk singer of all time found that his rise to stardom brought more than fame and fortune. It brought problems. While he was rising professionally his personal life became worse. Show busines … Continue